Building unit



P. J. MAUL BUIILDINGl UNIT dan. 5, 1937.

Filed Maron 16,` 195e NVENTOR PETER J. MAUL A Troie/v5 Ys BY n Patented Jan. '5, 11937,] h

UNITED STATES PATENT OFICE BUILDING UNIT l Peter J. Maul, Detroit, Mich., assigner to The Macotta Unit Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Maryland Application MarenA 16, 1936, serial No. 69,241 19 claims.. (ci. 72-20) "I'he invention relates to building units of that type more particularly designed for use for forming an ornamental facing of a building Wall. It is the primary object of the invention to obtain a construction which can be easily applied to the supporting Wall and without the necessity of using cement or mortar. It is a further object w to form a. joint between adjacent units which is weather-proof and which will hold the units in lo accurate alignment with each other. With these the con- `.view of one of the are securedto each other and to the supporting wall; 2 Figure 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the construction of the edging strips.

'I'he body of the unit may be formedof any f suitable material provided with `an-ornamental outer face. Preferably, I form this'body of concrete or other Ucementitious material, while the facing is formed of a variety of materials. Thus, I may employ for the facing non-corrodible sheetl metal, enameled or painted metal or sheeting or any material which ywill withstand nthe weather and will give the desired finish. As illustrated, A is the body of the unit and B the facing. This facing is preferably securedtotl'iev body by a `marginal frame overlapping the .edgesthereoL as well as by intermediate anchors projecting from the underside of the facing and embedded in the body. 'To secure the units to the supporting wall and yalso to form the joint between adjacent units, Ihave provided the following construction'.` C is a strip of somenon-corrodible metal, suchI as copper, which is applied to certain edges of the portion C2 and a return-bent portionC', these 5'0 being substantially in the plane of the rear face of the unit.` There is also an inclined anchor por'- vtion Cembedded iny the body and provided at intervals with apertures C5 through which the cementitious materialcan flow to form ties be- 55 tween the portions of the body on opposite sides unit and is securely anchored thereto. This strip is fashioned toform a projectingange arranged.

lable construction and are .not specifically illusmay be extended both vertically and laterally by thereof. At the lower endof the portion C4 is a bent flange CG which forms a further anchorage. Adjacent to the front face of the block the portion C' is bent and return-bent as indicated at C'7 to form a projecting tongue and is further return-bent to form a T-shaped portion C8 with a portion C9 extending parallel and adjacent to the portion C', terminating in a po'rtion C10 parallel and adjacent tothe portion C4. The marginal frame D which secures the facing B to the block A is attached tothe portions C" and CB being bent to embrace these portions vand also to form va portion D.; which over-laps the edge oi.' the facing. l ,l

The strip C fashioned as just describedy is applied to only the top and one of the side edges -of a unitthe bottom and opposite side edge being provided-,With a strip E return-bent at E lto embrace the edge portion of the facing B and again return-hentai; E2 to form a groove or channel adapted ,to ieceivethetongue portionvC'I of an adjacent unit. The. strip E is anchored by an obliquely extending portion E3 which is embedded `in the body A having an angle ange E* at its inner edge. f

The unit constructed as above described,` is secured to thesupporting wall'F by fasteners G which engage apertures in the ange C2 and extend into engagement with the supporting wall or frame. These fasteners may be of `any suittrated. After securing one of the units to the supporting wall another unit maybe placed adjacent thereto by engaging the grooved edge thereof with a projecting tonguel C".- The tongue is'of slightly greater length than the depth of the groove so thatwhen the units-are engaged Vwith each otherthe contact will be between the tongue and groove and not between the body portionswhich are slightly spaced. 'Ihis insures u proper alignment as the edging strips are accurately positioned.l 'Ihe opposite edge of the second unit is then secured in the saine manner'as previously described by engaging fasteners' G with the projecting liange C2. Thus, the facing the engagement of adjacent units in the manner just described. The bodyportion A of each unit has fa recess or rabbet Halong the rear face of l. each grooved edge toreceive the flange C? and to 50' permit saidunit to lie flush-with the supporting wall. -If desired, the joint `between units is further'sealed by the placing of a sealing gasket in the groove for engaging the tongue.

My improved constructionjhas the advantage 55 that the body of the unit may be comparatively thin so as not to materially increase the thickness of the building wall to which the facing is applied. This is particularly advantageous where the wall of the building is substantially on the lot line and where a thick facing .could not be applied without trespass on adjacent property. A further advantage of the construction is that it can be applied more rapidly than would be the case if the units weresecured in position by. cement or mortar.

What I claim'as my invention is:

1. Abuilding unit comprising a body, an edging strip provided with an anchor portion embedded in said body and having a projecting flange arranged substantially in the plane of the inner face of the unit, and a fastenerfor engaging said flange to attach the same to the supporting wall.

2. A building unit comprising a body, a strip extending along one edge of said body provided with an anchor portion embedded in said body, said strip having axprojecting ange arranged substantially in the plane of the rear face of the unit and a projecting tongue arranged adjacent to the front face of the unit, and a second separate strip extending along the opposite edge of the body having an anchor portion embedded therein, said strip' being fashioned to form a groove for receiving the tongue of an adjacent unit.

.3. A building unit comprising a body portion, and separate strips extending along opposite edges of said body portion each provided with an anchor portion embedded in said body, oneof said strips having a projecting flange arranged substantially in the plane of the rear face of the unit, and a projecting tongue adjacent to the front face of the unit and the other of said strips being fashioned to form a groove for receiving the tongue of an adjacent unit whereby a weather-proof joint is formed between units.

4. A'buildingl unit comprising a body portion and strips extending along the edges thereof and anchored thereto, the strip on the top edge and one of the side edges of the body being fashioned to form a projecting flange substantially in the plane of the rear face of the unit and forming a securing means therefor, and a projecting tongue adjacent vto the front face of the unit, the strips on 'the bottom and opposite side edges of the body being fashioned to form grooves for receiving the tongues of adjacent units.

- 5. A building unit comprising a body formed of cementitious material and strips extending along the edges of said body and provided with inwardly extending anchor portions embedded in the body, the strips on the top edge and one of the side edges of the body being fashioned to form a securing flange extending substantially in the plane of the rear face of the unit, andthe projecting tongue adjacent to the front face of the unit and the strips on the bottomfand opposite side edge of the body being fashionedl to form grooves for receiving the projecting tongues of adjacent units and the rear face of .the body on the'igrooved edges thereof being rabbeted to receive the tongue of the adjacent unit.

. 6. A building unit comprising a body portion formed of cementitious material and separate edging stripsextending along the opposite edges of said body and having anchor portions emand the strip on the opposite edge of the body' being fashioned to form a groove for receiving the tongue of an adjacent unit. f

7.-A building unit comprising. a body portion formed of cementitious material and separate edging strips extending along the edges of said body vand having anchor portions embedded in the body, the strip on one edge of said body 'being fashioned to form a projecting tongue and the plane of the rear face of the body, said flange being return-bent with an inwardly projecting portion forming an anchor embedded in the body, and an angle flange at the front of said strip forming a projecting tongue.

9. A building 'unit comprising a body portion formed of cementitious material andan edging s trip comprising a portion extending from front to rear of the edge of said body having an' outwardly projecting angle flange substantially in the plane of the rear face of the body, said flange being return-bent with an inwardly projecting portion forming an anchor embedded in the body, an angle ange at the front of said strip forming a projecting tongue and return-bent to form a T-head overlapping the front of the body.

10. A building unit comprising a body portion formed of cementitious material and an edgingv strip comprising a portion extending from front to rear of the edge of said body having' an outwardly projecting angle flange substantially in the plane of the rear face of the body, said ange being return-bent with an inwardly projecting portion forming an anchor embedded in the body,

an angle flange at the front of said strip forming a projecting tonguevand return-bent to form a T-head overlapping the front of the body, and an ornamental facing strip embracing said T- head to be secured thereto.

1l. A building unit comprising a body portion formed of cementitious material and a front facing plate therefor and an edging strip comprising a portion extendingfrom front to rear of the edge of said body having an outwardly projecting angle flange substantially in the plane of the rear face of the body, said flange being return'- bent with an inwardly projecting portion forming an anchor embedded in the body, an`angle flange atl the front of'said strip forming a projecting tongue and return-bent to form a T-head overlapping the front of the body, and an ornamental facing strip embracing said T-head to be secured thereto, said facing strip forming a securing means for said front facing plate.

Al2. A building unit comprising a body portion formed of cementitious material and a front facing plate therefor and an edging strip comprising a portion extending from front to rearof the edge of said body having an outwardly projecting angle flange substantially in the plane of the rear face of the body, said flange beingv return-bent rwith an inwardly projecting portion forming an anchor embedded in the body, an angle flange at the 'front of said strip forming a projecting tongue and return-bent to form a T-head' overlapping the front of the body, and an ornamental facing-strip embracing said T- 2,067,059 3 V head to be secured thereto, saidl Afacing strip having Aa hook-shaped flange for embracing the edge of said front ifacing plate to secure the same to said body. C i

13. A building `unit comprising a body portion formed of cementitious material and a front facing plate therefor and an edging strip comprising a portiony extending from front to rear of the edge of said body having an outwardly pro.

projectingtongue and return-bent to form a T-` head overlappingA the front 'of the body, and an ornamental facing strip having opposite returnbent `flanges for embracing said T-head and also i having an intermediate return-bent portion forming a hook ange for embracing .the edge of said Vfront facing plate to secure the same to s aid` block.

r 14. A building unit comprising a body portion `formed of cementitious material and a front facing plate therefor' and an edging strip comprising a portion extending from front to Vrear of ythe edge of said body `having an outwardly projecting angle ange substantially in' the piane of the rear faceof 'the body, said flange being return-bent with an inwardly projecting portion forming an anchor embedded in the body,

an angle flange at the front of said strip forming a projecting tongue and return-bent to form a l T-head overlapping the front of the body, and

an ornamental .facing strip having opposite return-bent anges for embracing said T-head and also having an intermediate return-bent portion formingl a hook flange for embracing the edge of said front-facing plate to secure the same to said block, and a. projecting flange from the return-bent portion engaging the T-head extending into'the cementitious body and forming an the plane of the rear face of the body. said tflange being return-bent with an inwardly projecting portion forming an anchor embedded in the body, said anchor portion being apertured for the passage of cementitious material therethrough and having a hooked flange at its inner edge.

16.- A building unit comprising a body formed of cementitious material and an edging strip therefor, said strip having at its rear edge an anchor portion embedded in said body and at its front" edge a T-shaped head, one arm of said T overlapping the `b odyand the other arm forming a projecting tongue.

17. A building unit comprising a body formed of cementitious material and an edging strip therefor, said strip having at its rear edge an anchor portion embedded in said body and at its front edge` a T-shaped head; one arm of said T overlapping the body and the other arm forming a projecting tongue, and an ornamental strip embracing said T-head exposed Aat the front of said body.

18. A building unit comprising a body formed of cementitious materialya front facing plate therefor,` an edging strip for said body 'having at its rear edge van anchor portion embedded in one arm of said Toverlapping the body and the other arm forming a projecting tongue, and an rsaid body and at its front edge a T-shaped head,

ornamental strip embracing said T-head exposed at the front of said body, said ornamental strip having, a hooked flange for embracing the edge of said front facing plate..

19. `A building unit comprising a body formed of cementitious material, a front facing plate f therefor, an edging strip-for said body havingV at its rear edge an anchor portion embedded in said body andat its front edge a T-shaped head, one arm of said T overlapping the body and the other arm forming a projecting tongue. an ornamental strip embracing said T-head exposed atthe front of said body, said ornamental` strip having a hooked `flange for embracing the edge of said front facing plate. and a strip anchored tothe opposite edge of said body having a groove portion for receiving the 'projecting tongue of an adjacent unit and a hook flange for engaging the opposite edge of the front facing plate;

PETER J. MAUL. 

